UPDATE ON CAUSE OF UNHEALTHY BAY FISH

8 February 2008

Investigations by EPA Victoria have ruled out pollution as the cause of fish with lesions being caught in Port Phillip Bay.

Investigations to date have found flathead, flounder, puffer fish and cobbler with head lesions. Reports from the public indicate that there may be other species affected.

EPA and Department of Primary Industries have investigated water quality parameters, pollutants, toxic phytoplankton and other possible causes. There is no evidence that any of the pollutants investigated caused the disease in the fish.

More information can be found at www.epa.vic.gov.au

EPA will continue to support Department of Primary Industries in their endeavor to identify causes, however it is unlikely that there is a single cause.

Previous Department of Human Services advice that people should avoid touching or eating any fish that have lesions is still current.

Department of Primary Industries Executive Director Peter Appleford said “similar events were investigated thoroughly in 1984 and 1998. On those occasions a single cause was not found and it appears the fish are responding to a number of natural variables in the bay.”

Questions from the public about unhealthy bay fish should be directed to Department of Primary Industries by calling 13 61 86.